All articles tagged with #defection
Two North Korean brothers, spurred by a decade-long plan from their late father, orchestrated a daring May 2023 escape for nine relatives—women and children hidden in sacks—by crossing the Yellow Sea near the Northern Limit Line to defect to South Korea; one brother died in a scuba accident two months later, leaving the survivor to rebuild his life in Seoul and advocate about life in North Korea.
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney gains ground toward a majority after Lori Idlout (NDP, Nunavut) defects to the Liberals, joining other Conservative-crossovers; three April by-elections could push the Liberals to 173 seats, potentially avoiding another election for years.
Canada's governing Liberals gain another opposition defector, nudging the party toward a parliamentary majority as Prime Minister Mark Carney steers the government during Question Period in Ottawa.
Five Iranian women's soccer players defected after the Asian Cup in Australia and are being sheltered by the Australian Federal Police in a safe house, with government and FIFA/AFC talks underway about extending their stay amid threats from state media and the regime following anthem protests.
UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch apologised for a party statement referencing Suella Braverman's mental health after her defection to Reform UK, calling the remark wrong and retracting it; Braverman criticised the line, while Badenoch described defectors as 'drama queens' in a later speech amid a wave of Tory MPs joining Reform UK and ongoing debates over centrism and immigration.
Brooks Koepka has become the first player to leave LIV Golf, raising questions about his potential return to the PGA Tour, which requires a one-year absence after joining LIV. His departure marks a significant shift in professional golf, with Koepka prioritizing family and personal reasons, and the PGA Tour acknowledging his move while emphasizing its competitive environment.
Two North Korean prisoners of war held by Ukraine have expressed their desire to start a new life in South Korea, thanking the South Korean people and indicating their wish to defect, amid concerns over their safety and the potential threat of repatriation to North Korea.
A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea across the heavily fortified border, marking the first such defection since August 2024, amidst ongoing tensions and military build-up on both sides.
A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea across the heavily fortified border, marking the first such defection since August 2024, amid ongoing tensions between the two Koreas.
A North Korean civilian successfully defected to South Korea by crossing the heavily mined and surveilled DMZ, with the South Korean military assisting in a 20-hour operation, marking a rare direct land crossing since most defectors escape through third countries.
A North Korean man crossed the heavily fortified border into South Korea and is in custody, with South Korean military guiding him out of the demilitarized zone; the incident occurs amid heightened tensions and recent border skirmishes between the two Koreas.
A North Korean man unarmed and crossing the heavily fortified DMZ was found and safely guided to South Korea, marking a rare and risky border crossing amid ongoing tensions and diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the two Koreas.
A North Korean man crossed the heavily fortified border into South Korea and is in custody, prompting an investigation amid ongoing tensions and recent border incidents between the two Koreas, with efforts by South Korea to improve relations.
Maxim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine, was found dead in Spain, raising suspicions of Russian involvement. Kuzminov had fled Russia with sensitive military information, and his murder in Villajoyosa was captured on security cameras, showing two assassins using a silencer. The case is under investigation by Spanish authorities, with evidence suggesting Russian Special Services' involvement. Kuzminov's death highlights concerns over Russia's reach in targeting defectors and critics abroad.
Hyunseung Lee, a former North Korean soldier, warns that North Korean troops deployed to Russia are unprepared for combat against Ukrainian forces. Despite being equipped with advanced technology, these troops lack real battle experience and training with modern weaponry, making them vulnerable. Lee suggests that the soldiers, who are unlikely to be compensated, may consider defecting, as they are not fighting for their homeland or families. He emphasizes that the North Korean regime has deceived them, and the war is not worth fighting for.